Flat shipped promotional spinning and flying toy

ABSTRACT

A promotional toy ( 22 ) manufactured and shipped as a flat disc is provided as a substrate ( 28 ) printed as a flat member and having a plurality of cuts ( 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 ) therein forming a plurality of cantilever legs ( 46, 48, 50 ) each having a hinged end ( 52, 54, 56 ) attached to the substrate and extending to a distally opposite free end ( 58, 60, 62 ) separable from the substrate along the cuts such that the free ends are collectively and jointly grippable by fingers ( 70 ) of a user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from Mexican Patent Application No. 000302, filed Oct. 31, 2000.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to promotional toys, for example, prizes in boxes or bags of cereals, snacks, and the like.

[0003] The promotional toy market requires low cost yet highly appreciated value. It is desirable that the toy be packaged and shipped as a flat member, not only for saving space within the boxes or bags containing cereal, snacks or the like, but also to reduce handling and packaging costs otherwise incurred with three-dimensional toys inserted and shipped in such containers. It is further desirable that the toy have logos, graphics or other printing thereon, for appeal, game playing, marketing, and so on. This in turn further demands flat items, which are the easiest and most economical to print with various known printing techniques, as opposed to printing or otherwise placing logos or graphics on three-dimensional items.

[0004] The present invention addresses the above promotional toy requirements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is a top view of a promotional toy in accordance with the invention.

[0006]FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. 1 and shows another embodiment.

[0007]FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 1 and shows another embodiment.

[0008]FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 1 and shows another embodiment.

[0009]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a further condition of the toy of FIG. 2.

[0010]FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating one mode of operation of the toy of FIG. 5.

[0011]FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating another mode of operation of the toy of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] FIGS. 1-4 show various promotional toys 20, 22, 24, 26 in varying shapes, each manufactured and shipped as a flat disc comprising a substrate 28, FIGS. 2, 5, printed as a flat member to provide graphics, logos or other printed matter, for example as shown at 30, 32. It is desirable that the toy be printed as a flat disc enabling the performance of a printing operation on the substrate as a flat member, to in turn enable standard low cost printing techniques to be used.

[0013] Flat disc 28, FIG. 5, of toy 22 has a plurality of die-cuts 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 therein forming a plurality of cantilever legs 46, 48, 50 each having a hinged end 52, 54, 56 attached to the substrate and extending to a distally opposite free end 58, 60, 62 separable from the substrate along the noted cuts and leaving respective slots 64, 66, 68 vacated thereby. Free ends 58, 60, 62, FIG. 5, are grippable by fingers 70, FIG. 6, of a user in a plane spaced from the plane of substrate disc 28 such that twisting of fingers 70 gripping free ends 58, 60, 62 in a plane above the substrate imparts a spinning motion of toy 22 on a surface 72 therebelow such as a table top or the floor. Twisting of fingers 70 gripping free ends 58, 60, 62 in a plane below the disc substrate, FIG. 7, imparts a rotary flying motion of toy 22, followed by landing and spinning of toy 22 on free ends 58, 60, 62 on a surface therebelow such as 72.

[0014] Disc 28 is symmetrical about a center-point 74, FIG. 2, in the plane of the substrate. Center-point 74 lies on the axis of rotation 76 of the noted spinning motion which is also the axis of rotation of the noted flying motion, i.e. the axis of rotation of the spinning motion is coincident with the axis of rotation of the flying motion. Legs 46, 48, 50 defined by cuts 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 extend symmetrically and radially, FIG. 2, relative to center-point 74 to create a balanced rotation axis 76 including after separation of free ends 58, 60, 62, FIGS. 5-7. The balanced rotation axis is provided by symmetrical distribution of mass of substrate material between slots 64, 66, 68 vacated by legs 46, 48, 50. Hinged ends 52, 54, 56 are interdigitationally spaced along a subperimeter 78 having a center at centerpoint 74. Legs 46, 48, 50 are bendable about hinged ends 52, 54, 56, with free ends 58, 60, 62 meeting at a common point, FIG. 5, on axis 76.

[0015] During die-cutting of cuts 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, a dimple or protuberance 80 is punched or otherwise formed at center-point 74. Protuberance or dimple 80 extends downwardly in the orientation of FIGS. 5 and 6 provides a pointed end or tip upon which toy 22 spins, like a top, FIG. 6. It has also been found that disc 28 convexly bows at center-point 74 upon separation of free ends 58, 60, 62 from substrate disc 28 and bending of legs 46, 48, 50. The convex bowing is in a downward direction in the orientation of FIGS. 5 and 6 in a direction opposite to the direction of upward bending of legs 46, 48, 50 in such Figures. Disc 28 spins on such downwardly convexly bowed center-point on surface 72 below substrate disc 28 in response to twisting of fingers 70 gripping free ends 58, 60, 62 above the substrate.

[0016] Hinged ends 52, 54, 56, FIGS. 2, 5, are equally interdigitationally spaced along subperimeter 78 symmetrically relative to center-point 74. Each leg is defined by the noted cut having sides such as 34 and 36 frustoconically tapered relative to each other. The spacing between the sides is greatest at hinged end 52 and decreases as the sides extend radially outwardly. The sides are joined at an outer rounded tip 82, FIG. 5, defining free end 58.

Mexican Priority Application

[0017] The following passage is taken from the noted Mexican priority application.

[0018] A novel spinning and flying promotional toy of very low cost and highly appreciated value is provided, attained through a flat, semi-rigid, printed element, and die-cut with varied symmetrical shapes and internal cuts towards the center of the piece in such a way that it allows the internal elements to be folded in symmetrical sections and in a perpendicular direction to the piece to create a balanced rotation axis, in such a way that when it is put in motion with the fingers, it rotates on a horizontal surface resting on a protuberance located at the center of the piece and it also flies when it is launched in the air in a rotating manner.

[0019] In the field of spinning and flying toys impelled by the action of the fingers, there are a great variety of shapes and designs. These spinning and flying toys are manufactured in molds of injected plastic with varied shapes and sizes. The disadvantages of these kinds of toys are that some of them offer only the spinning function, known as pirinolas or tops, but they do not integrate the function of flying. Others offer only the function of flying, but not the spinning. They represent a very high cost for the high volume promotional market. They offer very little space, with a high cost and difficulty for printing inscriptions, logos, and all kinds of characters essential for this market. They present very high complexity and very high costs in the handling, packing, storage and distribution of large volumes, common to this kind of market, due to the three-dimensional shape with which they come out from the plastic injection mold.

[0020] With the purpose of eliminating the above-mentioned disadvantages, the invention of the Mexican application focuses its characteristics in a novel spinning and flying promotional toy of very low cost and highly appreciated value, attained by means of a flat, semi-rigid element, inexpensively printed with any kind of inscriptions, logo types, characters, etc., and die-cut with diverse symmetrical shapes and symmetrical internal cuts towards the center of the piece, in such a way that it remains flat, reducing handling, packaging, storage and distribution costs. When the item reaches the final consumer, the internal elements may be folded in a symmetrical manner and in a perpendicular direction to the piece to create a balanced rotation axis, in such a way that when it is put in motion with the fingers, it rotates on a horizontal surface resting on a protuberance located at the center of the piece and it flies when it is launched in the air in a rotating manner.

[0021] FIGS. 1-4 show varied flat shapes die-cut symmetrically, with their internal cut lines towards the center of the piece, and including fold lines and a protuberance. FIG. 5 shows the manner in which the internal elements are folded in a symmetrical way and in a symmetrical direction to the piece to form a symmetrical and balanced rotation axis. FIG. 6 shows the manner in which the toy is put in motion with the rotation of the fingers to make it spin on a horizontal surface. FIG. 7 shows the manner in which the toy is launched in the air and put in motion on its perpendicular axis with a spin of the fingers in order to make it fly.

[0022] Visible in FIGS. 1-4 are a variety of flat shapes appropriate for the proper functioning of the spinning and flying toy characterized by their symmetrical radial external shape 1 and symmetrical internal cuts 2 which start from an equidistant form and in a radial form towards the center of piece up to an internal point 3, variable and determined according to the different flexibility, resistance and thickness characteristics of the different laminated materials with which it can be manufactured. As well as being characterized by symmetrical fold marks 4 resulting from the joining of the points 3 where the internal radial cuts end at 2, in this manner there is formed internal symmetrical and radial elements 5 and a protuberance 6 at the center of the piece. In FIG. 5 it can be observed the way in which these internal symmetrical radial elements 5 are folded by the final consumer in a perpendicular way to the piece to form a balanced and symmetrical rotation axis. In FIG. 6 it can be observed as to the position in which the spinning and flying promotional toy is put in motion through rotation of the fingers against the internal symmetrical radial elements 5 to make it spin on a horizontal surface on its protuberance 6. In FIG. 7 it can be observed as to the position in which the spinning and flying promotional toy is put in motion on the internal symmetrical radial elements 5 launching it to the air through a rotation of the fingers to make it fly.

[0023] The spinning and flying promotional toy is characterized by its symmetrical radial external shape and symmetrical internal cuts that start from an equidistant form and in a radial form towards the center of the piece up to an internal point variable and determined according to the different flexibility, resistance and thickness characteristics of the different laminated materials with which it can be manufactured. As well as being characterized by symmetrical fold marks resulting from the joining of the points where the internal radial cuts end, there is formed the internal symmetrical and radial elements and a protuberance located at the center of the piece. The spinning and flying promotional toy in accordance with that above noted is further characterized in which the symmetrical internal radial elements are folded by the final consumer in a perpendicular way to the piece to form a balanced and symmetrical rotation axis. The spinning and promotional toy as above set forth is further characterized in which the toy is put in motion on its perpendicular axis through the rotation of the fingers to make it spin on a horizontal surface on its central protuberance. The spinning and flying promotional toy in accordance with that set forth above is further characterized which is put in motion on its perpendicular axis through the rotation of the fingers and launched to the air to make it fly.

[0024] The spinning and flying promotional toy is characterized by its symmetrical radial external shape and symmetrical internal cuts that start from an equidistant form and in a radial form towards the center of the piece up to an internal point variable and determined according to the different flexibility, resistance and thickness characteristics of the different laminated materials with which it can be manufactured. As well as being characterized by symmetrical fold marks resulting from the joining of the points where the internal radial cuts end, forming the internal symmetrical elements which are folded by the final consumer in a perpendicular way to the piece to form a balanced and perpendicular rotation axis. Integrating a protuberance located at the center of the piece on which it spins on a horizontal surface when it is put in motion on its perpendicular axis through a rotation of the fingers, as well as allowing it to fly when it is launched to the air put in motion on its perpendicular axis with a rotation of the fingers.

[0025] It is recognized that various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, other patterns and numbers of legs may be used. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A promotional toy manufactured and shipped as a flat disc comprising a substrate printed as a flat member and having a plurality of cuts therein forming a plurality of cantilever legs each having a hinged end attached to said substrate and extending to a distally opposite free end separable from said substrate along said cuts such that said free ends are collectively and jointly grippable by fingers of a user in a plane spaced from the plane of said substrate such that twisting of said fingers gripping said free ends in a plane above said substrate imparts a spinning motion of said toy on a surface therebelow, and such that twisting of said fingers gripping said free ends in a plane below said substrate imparts a rotary flying motion of said toy followed by landing and spinning of said toy on said free ends on a surface therebelow.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said disc is symmetrical about a center-point in the plane of said substrate, said center-point lying on the axis of rotation of said spinning motion and on the axis of rotation of said flying motion, said axis of rotation of said spinning motion being coincident with said axis of rotation of said flying motion, wherein said legs as defined by said cuts extend symmetrically and radially relative to said center-point to create a balanced rotation axis including after separation of said free ends, said balanced rotation axis being provided by symmetrical distribution of mass of substrate material between slots vacated by said legs.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said hinged ends are interdigitationally spaced along a subperimeter having a center at said centerpoint.
 4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said legs are bendable about said hinged ends with said free ends meeting at a common point on said axis of rotation.
 5. The invention according to claim 3 comprising a dimple protuberance in said substrate at said center-point providing a pointed tip upon which said toy spins on said surface therebelow.
 6. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said disc is convexly bowed at said center-point upon separation and bending of said legs, the convex bowing being in a direction opposite to the direction of said bending of said legs, such that said disc spins on said convexly bowed center-point on said surface below said substrate in response to said twisting of said fingers gripping said free ends above said substrate.
 7. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said hinged ends are equally interdigitationally spaced along said subperimeter symmetrically relative to said center-point.
 8. The invention according to claim 3 wherein each leg is defined by a cut having sides frustoconically tapered relative to each other, the spacing between said sides being greatest at said hinged end and decreasing as said sides extend radially outwardly.
 9. The invention according to claim 3 wherein each leg is defined by a cut having sides spaced from each other and extending radially outwardly and joined at an outer rounded tip defining said free end.
 10. A method for making a promotional toy for shipment as a flat disc, comprising providing a flat substrate, performing a printing operation on said substrate as a flat member, die-cutting said printed flat substrate to provide a plurality of cuts therein forming a plurality of cantilever legs each having a hinged end attached to said substrate and extending to a distally opposite free end separable from said substrate along said cuts such that said free ends are collectively and jointly grippable by fingers of a user in a plane spaced from the plane of said substrate such that twisting of said fingers gripping said free ends in a plane above said substrate imparts a spinning motion of said toy on a surface therebelow, and such that twisting of said fingers gripping said free ends in a plane below said substrate imparts a rotary flying motion of said toy followed by landing and spinning of said toy on said free ends on a surface therebelow.
 11. The method according to claim 10 comprising providing said disc as symmetrical about a center-point in the plane of said substrate, said center-point lying on the axis of rotation of said spinning motion and on the axis of rotation of said flying motion, said axis of rotation of said spinning motion being coincident with said axis of rotation of said flying motion, providing said legs as defined by said cuts extending symmetrically and radially relative to said center-point and creating a balanced rotation axis including after separation of said free ends, providing said balanced rotation axis by providing symmetrical distribution of mass of substrate material between slots vacated by said legs.
 12. The method according to claim 11 comprising interdigitationally spacing said hinged ends along a subperimeter having a center at said center-point.
 13. The method according to claim 12 comprising bending said legs about said hinged ends such that said free ends meet at a common point on said axis of rotation.
 14. The method according to claim 12 comprising forming a dimple in said substrate to provide a protuberance therefrom forming a pointed tip upon which said toy spins on said surface therebelow.
 15. The method according to claim 12 comprising convexly bowing said disc at said center-point by separating said legs from said substrate and bending said legs about said hinged ends, the convex bowing being in a direction opposite to the direction of bending of said legs, such that said disc spins on said convexly bowed center-point on said surface below said substrate in response to said twisting of said fingers gripping said free ends above said substrate.
 16. The method according to claim 12 comprising equally interdigitationally spacing said hinged ends along said subperimeter symmetrically relative to said center-point.
 17. The method according to claim 12 comprising defining each leg by a die-cut having sides frustoconically tapered relative to each other, the spacing between said sides being greatest at said hinged end and decreasing as said sides extend radially outwardly.
 18. The method according to claim 12 comprising defining each leg by a die-cut having sides spaced from each other and extending radially outwardly and joined at an outer rounded tip defining said free end.
 19. A method for forming a promotional toy manufactured and shipped as a flat disc comprising a substrate printed as a flat member and having a plurality of cuts therein forming a plurality of cantilever legs each having a hinged end attached to said substrate and extending to a distally opposite free end separable from said substrate along said cuts, said method comprising: separating said free ends from said substrate and bending said legs away from said substrate about said hinged ends; collectively and jointly gripping said free ends with one's fingers in a plane spaced above the plane of said substrate and twisting one's fingers when it is desired to impart a spinning motion to said toy on a surface therebelow; collectively and jointly gripping said free ends with one's fingers in a plane spaced below the plane of said substrate and twisting one's fingers when it is desired to impart a rotary flying motion to said toy followed by landing and spinning of said toy on said free ends on a surface therebelow. 